Using the Minnesota Historical Society Library: Hubbs Microfilm Room

MNHS holds the largest single collection of Minnesota newspapers with dates ranging from 1849 to the present day. These newspapers have been microfilmed and are available at the library. The collection includes daily and weekly Minnesota newspapers, as well as non-English-language, labor, ethnic, reservation, legal, prison, religious, political, school, and other special-interest papers.

Several indices to Minnesota newspapers can be found in the Hubbs Microfilm Room, including:

• Minnesota Pioneer Index (card file /WRR)
• Minneapolis Tribune and Minneapolis Star Index (1971-1980)
• Minneapolis Star & Tribune Index (1981-1986)
• St. Paul Newspaper Index (1967-1996)
• Fargo Forum Index (1981-1995)
• Duluth Herald & News Tribune Index, Duluth News Tribune Index (1978-1995)
• Minneapolis, St. Paul, And Edina Newspaper Photographs Collection Finding Aid (ca. 1901-1988; bulk 1940-1970)
• Minneapolis And St. Paul Newspaper Negatives Collection Finding Aid (1936-1987)
• Minnesota Black Newspaper Index

Staff at the Hubbs Reference Desk can assist you with finding items on microfilm and using the microfilm readers and printers. 

The Hubbs Microfilm room also has the Family History Help Desk which is staffed by trained family history volunteers. The volunteers can help beginning family historians get a good start on their family history or consult with veteran researchers who have encountered problems in their search.

The Family History Help Desks are staffed at various times during the week as well as Tuesday evenings. Call 651-259-3300 to check on the current schedule.

Microfilm materials are accessed with self-service microfilm readers and reader-printers.

The cost to print is $0.35 per photocopy. To print from microfilm, you may purchase a copy card at Copy Services.  

Microfilm digital scanners are also available.  Images may be printed or saved to a flash drive. Prints or scans are also $0.35 each.  

The Minnesota Historical Society participates in Interlibrary Loan on a limited basis as the collections are considered to be reference material.

Microfilm may be loaned for three weeks from the date items are received by the borrowing institution for $3.00 per reel plus $2.50 handling for each order.